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To The Editor
Too many holidays, too little output
Few decades ago a distinguished aid worker, late Dr. Winburn Thomas, saw me walking near the Dhanmondi lake at nine in the morning. He called me from his verandah workplace, and invited me for coffee. The first question he asked, "have you been compulsorily retired or something else?" I replied it was a day of hartal and it was too dangerous to go to Topkhana/Baitul Mukarram area. He shot back, "Happy, hartal" I was downcast, and the coffee tasted bitter.
On the 16th of September last, I landed at Dhaka Airport (12 noon). I was dismayed to hear that the hartal had commenced at dawn and will continue till the dusk. The 'happy hartals' are going on for decades. But there was one change for me. I'm now a very senior citizen and on a 'permanent holiday'. The lounge was cool, and foods and snacks available, as were the newspapers and magazines. The evening was not too far either.
In my paper bag, I had a diary and just by accident, I came across the holiday list. Some spot thoughts occurred to me. How much holidays does a public servant enjoy in this country? The table below is an approximation: i) 53 weekly holidays in a year ii) 23 days holidays for all iii) 7 optional holidays
iv) 30 days of paid holiday in a year
v) 15 days casual leave in a year, total 128 days in a year (4.26 months)
If we add two 'happy hartals' in each month, the total days will come to 152 in a year. Happy 'hartal days' have the semblance of a working day, but productivity wise the output would not be more than 20%.
Does one of the poorest countries (146th in the WDR) of the world deserve such a luxury? This needs introspection on the part of every public servant. "Let us not ask what our country can give to us, but let us ask what we can do for our country" (adapted from sermons of late President Kennedy).
Shahabuddin Mahtab
Gulshan, Dhaka
'Save now to buy PhD [s] later!'
My attention has been drawn to a letter written by Mr. Sajjad Waheed (from Dhaka) which appeared in the DS, Monday October 13, 2003. While I ought to refrain from commenting on the entire letter, I would like to take an opportunity to protest strongly his sweeping remarks regarding all politicians of this country that, "Show me a single politician who is honest and did not become rich in this profession?"
May I ask, what does he mean by that remark? True, the political trend has immensely changed and politicians hardly spend their savings or earnings in their constituencies today as they did, say, some 40 to 50 years ago. But, even then, there are many amongst them who still nurture their constituencies with meagre resources [or for a change if they are rich, spend some good portion of their money] looking after the interests of their areas. It is also true that many take politics as their sole profession today and mint money as long as they can. Umpteen stories of 'rags to riches' revolve round those fortunate gentlemen [and ladies] as they become rich overnight.
As for me, my family, [actually my mother], we owned a spacious house built on 5% bighas of land in Tikatully area of Dhaka which my father had purchased for only Rs.49,000.oo [forty nine thousand] in the year 1949 with the help of his 'Calcutta savings'---the big city where he had a roaring practice as the No.1 lawyer of undivided Bengal.
Thirty six years later, I had to take her permission and part with a good portion of the land along with the big pond, to keep me fit and running in the game of politics. I had no other source of income except a few occasional business deals and the rent from a commercial building at Bangaba-ndhu Avenue, Dhaka.
From 1996 till I contested the general elections in 2001, I had to nurture my constituency with my own money while competing with a dishonest man who had already swallowed 55 crores of takas from three schedule banks and was still going scot-free! And, when I returned home in the afternoon of October 02, 2003, I was literally poorer by lakhs, not thousands -- I was almost ruined while contesting a 'Rin Khelafi' who had master-minded his victory through umpteen bundles of 500 taka notes!
Will Mr. Waheed still stick to his gun and say what he has said in
his letter?
Advocate AK Faezul Huq Baridhara, Dhaka
'Most corrupt' epithet is incorrect
The Transparency International (TI) has branded Bangladesh as the most corrupt nation and I disagree with that.
As a nation we are not corrupt. Yes, the government machinery and the so called semi government organisations are corrupt, no doubt. If a section of the nation is corrupt, that does not mean the whole nation is corrupt. Most of our people are honest.
How do you test our honesty? Power failure in New York and subsequent looting is a test case. Our people are poor but no such incidents took place in this country although power failure is a common phenomenon. We don't need the tight security of the banks as in Stockholm where the entry is too restricted. We still do not have to bribe for a train ticket (except for occasions) like in Howrah station. The list can be longer.
We as a nation take everything lying, especially if it comes from the West. A number of corrupt individuals' unethical doings cannot justify branding a nation as the 'most corrupt' one. This gives a wrong perception about our people. Most of us are honest, simple and very hospitable.
But a single organisation's unsolicited verdict has tarnished the image of the whole nation. I suggest that the TI should replace the word 'nation' by 'government'. Commodore AMA Alam (Retd.) Mohakhali, Dhaka
Bureaucrats are image-spoiler
I refer to the letter of Rubab Abdullah on the above, published on October 10, 2003, and like to express similar opinions on bureaucracy. It is indeed imperative for a country like ours. We've already scored a unique hat-trick(!) by ranking at the top in the Transparency International's (TI) list of the most corrupt countries. Many will agree that the government officials, whom the general people pay through taxes, will surely secure a leading position in any corruption index, which may only be second to the politicians.
Our experience shows that our people get nothing done easily by the government officials without bribes or political influences. A political leader or a party can be removed for his/its irregularities or misdeeds if the people decide to do so; but the common people find no countermeasure against a corrupt and snobbish government official.
I feel such officials should be made liable under a proper legal framework, because the country is enormously suffering due to their misconduct in many aspects. Slow progress in economy, reduction in local and foreign investments and the deteriorating image of the country to the rest of the world testify to such facts.
The widespread irregularities also do not do any good to enhance their reputation as public servants and are discouraging a good number of brightest students from seeking government jobs. Nonetheless, the question leakage and other unfair practices of the PSC officials and members, weird selection procedure of the BCS examination etc., are also preventing many qualified people from appearing for civil service examinations. Instead, they are increasingly opting for private jobs due to the challenging and stimulating job environment and the dynamism, sincerity and good performance that prevail in private corporations.
Hence, necessary means are urgently needed to stop the backsliding of the government offices, which may include introducing befitting salary structure, legal mechanism to make every government official answerable, etc. The country is paying heavily to succour a bunch of mostly mediocre, lethargic and demoralised government officials. This important issue needs to get due priority to stop another hat trick in corruption!
Takad Ahmed Chowdhury Kallyanpur Housing Estate, Dhaka
Oh no! Not again!
Honestly, I didn't want to write again. Last time I wrote a letter in the Letter page was when Bangladesh hit the top slot as the most corrupt country in the world. But unfortunately, I have to write again about the same humiliation. I hope it will be the last time. Only consolation is that there is no place above No. 1, otherwise what would have happened God knows. May Allah save our coun-
try!
Mohammed Sohel Hara
Dilu road, MoghBazar, Dhaka
Of pollution and population
Pollution and population is something Bangladesh has in abundance. But it is not something to be proud of. The other day, perhaps for the first time, I realised how polluted our country is. What's happening? By polluting our country we are harming ourselves.
And we ourselves are responsible for such pollution. Shouldn't the government take some actions to prevent this problem that is increasing by the day? Each and every lane at Lalmatia has a dustbin around the corner. But these "dustbins" have no walls or covers. There are open manholes too, and they are causing accidents.
Underground drains should be
constructed. We all know that it is hopeless to expect something from the government but can't we stop ourselves from polluting our own country? Or, should I say our very own Dhaka city? Of course we can, because as saying goes, "If there's a will, there's a way".
Nayeema Reza
Shyamoli, Dhaka
Cigarette: Trend beckons others
Though in these days people of all class are well aware of the bad effects of smoking, the number of smokers is increasing radically day by day. This implies that one is going to smoke knowing about its dreadful effects. That is definitely a bad sign for all of us. I have observed some new smokers and how they gradually get involved with it.
A huge number of students are addicted to Cigarettes, influenced by their friends. In fact students
without hard determination can not do much when friends insist and talk about how good it feels to smoke. Even senior students offer cigarette in various occasions to the juniors, just like tea.
Some hold a belief that students of Engineering and Medical have to smoke to keep their brain fresh. There are some who feel smarter while smoking. This trend beckons the beginners to inculcate such a bad habit. How can we expect a smoke free nation while the future nation builders are already chain smokers?
Istiaque Uddin
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, RUET Only US can restore peace in Iraq
I read the recent New York Times editorial urging the U.S. to hand over political authority of Iraq to the UN. The editorialists at the
New York Times, like other critics of US President George W Bush on Iraq, fail to realise that the United Nations can hardly do anything to improve the security situation in Iraq. The United Nations never mandated the war against Iraq and still it was attacked. Why? The answer lies in the fact that the UN's pres-
ence was seen as legitimising the US occupation of Iraq.
Leftover Saddam loyalists and religious fanatics have obviously joined forces against what they always considered as their common enemy the United States. Anything and anyone is fair game if it disrupts the working of American forces and ultimately drives them out. "This is the strategy of making things worse," says David Rudd, director of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies. "Make life so painful that the UN can't do its work, that the Military fails and all outsiders withdraw," Mr Rudd added.
Seen in this light, it is obvious that the United Nations would be impotent in Iraq, even if it is given political authority. This means that even if America gives up its control of Iraq, the UN will be incapable of providing any stability as it will come under renewed attacks by heavily-armed Baathist loyalists and their allies. No other country would be willing and able to sustain military casualties for too long.
Turkey has agreed to provide 10,000 peace-keeping forces. But it is not clear what type of security the Turkish troops would be able to provide if they suffer daily combat casualties. It is more likely that Turkey would beat a hasty retreat if its troops suffer casualties like the US troops.
Considering all this, the United States may be the only power which can defeat the Saddam loyalists and their allies and bring Iraq back to normalcy. It is the UN which needs the US and not other way around. The United States, with the help of the Iraqi allies, will have to restore law and order before the United Nations can move in and help in the reconstruction of Iraq.
Mahmood Elahi
Iris Street, Ottawa, Canada